Casting Ballots for the Planet
It’s been a long campaign season, and many of us are ready for a respite from barbed political banter. So let’s take a high-altitude look at what this looming election might mean–for our planet....
Category: Economics
The Value of Frugality
A recent skim of the book 365 Ways to Live Cheap! made me realize that, without ever trying, I have mastered the art of being a cheapskate. That long list of tips sounded all...
Sustainability Certification or Simply Marketing?
Certifying farms for sustainability is an appealing idea. The bureaucrats in Augusta who hatched this plan for Maine undoubtedly envisioned nothing but positive outcomes. A state seal of approval for sound agricultural practices could...
Serving up Wonky Veggies
Who is not amused by a two-legged carrot or an eggplant with a ski-jump nose? Gardeners don’t expect perfection or uniformity, especially when growing organically. Yet supermarkets claim they can sell only flawless produce...
This Changes Everything
“Is it really possible to be bored by the end of the world?” This question, in the opening minutes of Avi Lewis’s film This Changes Everything, reveals the paradox at the core of the...
Factoring in Local and Organic Foods on a Budget
The Press Herald recently reported that Maine residents spend a third more on food than the national average. This was not news for those of us tallying up grocery bills. We live daily with...
Minimizing Reliance on Credit Cards
When a gas pump rejected my credit card, I assumed its card reader was broken. Later that afternoon, another store clerk returned my card unused and told me, “It may be shut down for...
Climate Challenges and Opportunities
Around the time NASA announced that Earth had just experienced the hottest first five months of any year on record, 300-plus business owners, civic leaders and scientists gathered at an Envision Maine event to...
